Teleios

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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Encircled by Evil? Encourage the GOOD! Part 1

Thank you for visiting my blog. I want to take a quick break from our series exploring the exciting results of Teleios’ research to discuss the intense cultural wars that Christians face. This week let us consider the oppressive forces we face.

Christians in the United States have many blessings with which to serve God including: freedom of expression and assembly, a pro-Christian president and administration, safety within our shores, amazing access to electronic knowledge sources and communication, unprecedented financial wealth, wonderful biblical learning tools, and a robust church all of which provide opportunities for wellbeing, fellowship, learning and service. However, as in every past and future generation, Christians face challenges to our community and freedoms.

Our enemies - We are surrounded by a totalitarian, big-government culture which hates us. This should not surprise us because Christ promised the world would hate us (John 15:18-24).

I struggle to coin a name for these forces, but they have evolved from the historical political left and now manifest strong elements of socialism, one-world totalitarianism, and atheism. For this blog, I will call them “globalists” because I believe the term encompasses the characteristics noted above.

The globalists’ hatred is visibly demonstrated by the current violence, death threats, and verbal abuse against Christians and against a president who supports Christian values, as well as law and order. Indeed, it appears the unified underlying motives driving the evil intentions of the globalists, is their hatred of Christ and biblical principles. Sadly, they generally promote:

· Eliminating Christian access to the public square

· Limiting free speech

· Early sexual exposure

· Abortion

· Race-based bigotry

· Blurring of the genders

· Men using women's restrooms

· Destruction of borders to dilute American society and its exceptional benefits

· Forcing jihadi immigration into America to destroy our culture

· Jihadi violence against women and homosexuals, and mutilation of young girls

Their goal - Globalists replace individuality and personal freedoms by demanding that each person depends on the government for their job, residence, social benefits, and wellbeing. They fight to replace God, communities and family with an all-powerful government.

Their Methods - In short, ‘Just shut up!’

Christians often mistakenly believe that globalists think like we do, based in the same values, and try to engage in the public square in a mutually respectful way. Nothing could be further from the truth! While Christians generally treat others and their views respectfully, globalists use repressive tactics with an ‘ends justify the means’ ethic to destroy those with whom they disagree.

So what are their specific methods of culturally cleansing Christians?

· Shame - The classic argument from a humanistic standpoint is that Christians are narrow-minded, unloving, judgmental people in contrast to globalists who are all accepting of all and everything. In reality, however, globalists themselves are very narrow-minded and inflexible in their views, and condemn strongly those who disagree with them.

· Intimidation – They seek to silence us by threatening violence and verbal abuse.

· Name calling - Of course, any disagreement with a globalist earns one a title of homophobic, racist, misogynist, anti-science or fascist. They cover their own agenda by calling us exactly what they are themselves.

· Corruption (anything is fair) - They intend to eliminate our influence in the public square by using voter fraud and by forced integration of migrants to dilute our communities, destroy our liberty, and depress our Christian culture.

Thank you for reading my blog. Quite a challenge, but we have a big God! May we be people of faith! Join me again next week as we discuss what our reaction should be!

WC Stewart

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Wow, religion (Christianity) actually helps wellbeing!

Welcome back to my blog. Thank you for taking time to read it.

We just started a new series on the exciting research findings from Teleios! Our first topic was discussing the reasons for our passion at Teleios to explore the veracity of scripture. Today let us set off on a journey to discover the actual scientific data about how the Bible helps us. It is amazing!

Our first topic is perhaps the most vital: that Bible-based Christianity generally improves wellbeing. These data come from two main sources.

· Teleios - We have found through prospective surveys and studies that Christianity helps wellbeing both generally and from specific measures. We will discuss those findings next week.

· The medical literature – Peer-reviewed scientific studies support improved wellbeing with Christianity! As we began our research at Teleios this was a surprise to us. We found many studies indicating wellbeing was improved by the practice of religion. Importantly, almost all these medical studies were performed in historically Christian countries. This indicates that most all the patients in the studies would have been either social or believing Christians. Many of these studies can be seen in our published reviews and are available on our websites http://teleiosresearch.com/index.php/research-initiatives/publications. Otherwise they can be searched on Pubmed.

So let’s examine the medical literature. The findings are impressive and have shown that wellbeing is improved with religion in:

· Demographics - All age groups (10 years and older), both genders, and African-American as well as Caucasian races.

· Broad wellbeing effect - Specific wellbeing related measures such as: sense of purpose, satisfaction, hope, stronger social relationships, and ability to forgive.

· Social measures - Vital areas of life such as the family, career, a sense of community and socialization.

· Physical health – Healthy and patient populations. Specific diseases include: glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis, various cancers, chronic pain, fatigue, diabetes, diabetic eye disease, congestive heart failure, and HIV.

Religion has shown very few negative effects on wellbeing. Most commonly these have been related to the limited expression of one's faith to either internal or external religious activities alone or to those who have an adversarial relationship with God. The latter type of person might be one who does not understand grace as a means to salvation, instead working to try to satisfy God.

Indeed, it is striking to see that so many researchers have found, through scientific studies, the benefit of religion on wellbeing in Christian countries. These data are extensive and consistent enough that perhaps no other proof is needed from a scientific standpoint. We have a great God who has benefited us with salvation through Christ by grace, and provided scripture that through the power of the Holy Spirit we can live useful and joyful lives.

Join us again next week as we look at evidence from Teleios’ efforts demonstrate that Christianity can improve wellbeing.

WC Stewart

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

What drives us at Teleios?

Welcome back to my blog. Thank you for taking time to read it.

We are starting a new series today on discovering exciting research findings from Teleios! However, before we begin this vital series I want to review briefly what pushes us at Teleios to explore the veracity of scripture.

My wonderful wife, Jeanette, and I have had the privilege over many years to teach the scriptures to college-age students and young adults. Interestingly, what we observed during these studies motivated us to demonstrate the exciting practical value of scripture. Below, I summarize our observations. I will discuss the research findings supporting many of the statements in subsequent blogs.

Our observations, in general:

· Christians who are young in their faith almost always say they believe in the truth scripture (yay!).

· Upon further discussion, they admit need to know more (we all do and therefore, we do the Bible study!).

· Consequently, they usually base their decision-making upon precepts learned: in church or college groups, social Christian settings, or from their church denomination.

· Accordingly, they lack confidence in direct knowledge of God's word.

· They therefore do not test God’s word in their lives resulting in a failure to build confidence in His precepts.

· Further, they suffer with a nagging doubt, that if they really faced a crisis, their scriptural knowledge could not supply an answer. This challenge often presents in one or two forms: facing an emotional crisis themselves or with a friend; or speaking with a non-believer about the Gospel.

· Consequently, the temptation exists, because of their insecurities about scripture, to avoid confronting internal or external spiritual conflicts and to simply survive within the social church setting.

· And of course, there is the minority (16-20%) that want to do what they want to do, regardless of God’s Word!

It is like a security guard at the local shopping mall who might enjoy the comfortable job among the nice orderly shoppers. However, he knows deep inside he should learn how to fight in case a crisis ever occurred at the mall, such as armed robbers. But he doesn’t, knowing that he could run away if a crisis ever came. Consequently, he has no opportunity to ever gain confidence in fighting techniques or his own abilities.

So it is with many Christians in what I call the ‘cycle of failure’ (see below). They enjoy the social Christian setting and so do not learn God's word. Therefore, they really never gain confidence in their biblical knowledge. Accordingly, they never test themselves or obtain a deep confidence in the Bible’s value for daily life.

The figure describes the ‘Cycle of Failure’ of those who do not learn or test God’s word, not building the confidence to act based on its precepts. Consequently, they never knowing its full power.

God has granted us a sure and quality Bible text upon which we can base not only yur great salvation, but guidance for our lives! The Bible tells us to test God’s Word to build confidence (Romans 12:2; Greek word ‘dokimazo’) and utilize its power to live our lives with surety and maturity (Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 5:14).

Thanks for reading my blog, Please join us as we explore in the next few weeks the compelling findings from Teleios research that demonstrates the overwhelming power of the Bible to salvation and living a fruitful life.

WC Stewart

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Christianity and wellbeing on the college campus!

Welcome back to my blog. I'm glad you came to visit. We have just finished a wonderful series on salvation and the Christian walk to detail how to take advantage of good wellbeing associated with the Christian faith. Prior studies by Teleios and others have shown that personal wellbeing is better, on average, among Christians than non-Christians, especially the more they adhere to the practice of their faith, including church attendance (1-3).

Today, let us examine an exciting new study from Teleios. We surveyed students at the University of Georgia regarding their wellbeing and factors that influence it. In total, 247 students participated. An infographic of the survey can be found on the Teleios website (http://teleiosresearch.com/index.php/new-research-atheism-religion-and-wellbeing-in-college-students). The full report has been submitted for publication to a scientific journal.

Similar to our previous survey conducted at this same university (internal data, Teleios), all groups in the new survey reported generally good wellbeing. In the current survey the evangelical group had the highest ratings for wellbeing. They also had a greater sense of purpose. Further, evangelicals who were more adherent to their faith (e.g., religious activity, Bible study, prayer, praise, and teaching) showed better wellbeing than non-adherent evangelicals.

Although practices generally considered healthy were chosen by all groups as important for enhancing wellbeing (including: good health, university coursework, family and friends, a love interest, and career goals), evangelicals more often depended on their relationship with God and family as well as community service for improving wellbeing.

Fortunately, among all groups, only a low minority of respondents were dependent upon drugs/alcohol, social media or sexual relations for good wellbeing. Interestingly, evangelicals who indicated they did not have good wellbeing (13%) were more likely to depend on sexual relations or drugs/alcohol (54% of this group) for attaining good wellbeing than evangelicals noting good wellbeing (17% depending on sexual relations or drugs/alcohol).

Among atheists/agnostics, 40% noted they had strong feelings of guilt. Unlike evangelicals, we could not identify a subset of habits that predicted good wellbeing in the atheists/agnostics group. This group was less likely to demonstrate their beliefs through discussions, action or monetary giving. They more often expressed a desire for social activism and a one world government as a source of hope.

Students’ beliefs regarding entry into heaven varied markedly between religious groups with 80% of evangelicals and 60% of Catholics believing they would be admitted to heaven by faith in Jesus Christ. In contrast, half of the atheists/agnostics group indicated there was no heaven, but the rest were unsure or thought they would be admitted through works or grace.

This new study shows that college students mostly demonstrate good wellbeing, with evangelicals reporting the highest levels. Overall, wellbeing and hope generally come from maintaining good health, relationships with family and friends as well as career pursuits; evangelicals especially are distinctive in their relationship with God through grace.

Although, more work is needed to understand wellbeing among university students, this latest survey adds to the growing body of evidence of the advantages of Christianity to providing good wellbeing through salvation by grace and wise daily living.

Wow, as Christians we have a great Savior and a fantastic true resource in the Scriptures!

Thanks again for reading my blog. Join me again next week as we discuss more exciting Teleios research.

WC Stewart